Leftover Terrace Pie

When I was growing up, my mom always had a way with left overs due to her military approach to menu planning.  Roast on Monday followed by cold meat on Tuesday with jacked potatoes and so on.  Therefore, while I live on my own and love cooking, I find that I am willing to eat the same meal for a couple of days so that I don’t waste anything.  It just seems right and with an estimated 7.2 million tons of food being thrown out in the UK every year, I also get that nice green virtuous glow.

So on Saturday, I was lucky enough to buy a huge T-bone steak at a butchers on the Walthamstow market for just under £7.  Far too much to eat in one go but so lovely with spicy potato salad and a glass of prosecco – or two.   On Sunday, I noticed the remains lurking in the fridge and decided on my take on cottage pie.

I realise that this is likely to get me hug drawn and quartered by the purists but it works with all meats as well as canned tuna and is a really lovely meal.

Leftover Terrace Pie:

·         4 potatoes, peeled and cut into small pieces

·         Remains of a t-bone steak or beef (or the protein of your choice)

·         1 large onion, chopped

·         Bacon lardons (around 100g as they are more for flavour)

·         250g mushrooms (I used a multi pack of different types)

·         100ml of Prosecco or white wine

·         2 cloves (or 1 teaspoon) of garlic

·         Worchester Sauce to taste

·         Vegetable Oil

1. Add prepared potatoes to boiling water and turn the heat down and cook until a knife slides into them easily and they are just right for mashed potato.
2. Put a little vegetable oil in a pan on the head and add chopped onion – sauté. Add bacon and mushrooms frying until they reduce.
3. Remove the beef from the t-bone and chop into small pieces then add to the muchroom mixture.
4. Add a glug of wine to the mixture and some garlic paste (or finely chopped cloves) as well as some Worchester Sauce (I tend to leave this out if I am using tuna).  Then fill a pie tin with the mixture
5. Remove the potatoes from the stove when they are done and make your version of buttery mashed potato heaven.  Sprinkle this on top of the mushroom / beef mixture in the tin creating peaks and then bake at a moderate heat until the peaks crisp.

Enjoy with the remainder of the wine

Lx

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